Utah arts — Exhibits in Provo, Springville

A variety of work from Utah artists is currently on display at the Springville Museum of Art and the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo.

An exhibition titled "Utah Impressions: Selections From the Collection of Diane & Sam Stewart" is on loan through December at the Springville Museum of Art and features several Utah artist and their depictions of Utah scenes through the seasons.

Among the artists is Mahonri Young (1877-1957), grandson of Brigham Young. One of his works is "Rural Landscape," an impressionistic painting created of watercolor, pen, ink and charcoal in the 1940s.

Another is John Hafen (1856-1910). As a Springville artist, Hafen's ripple effect led to the founding of the Springville Museum of Art. He donated a painting to Springville High School to encourage other artists — including his friend Cyrus Dallin, who became a world-renowned artist — to donate artwork. The collection grew and eventually required a building to house and display it, which became the Springville Museum of Art.

One of his pieces in the exhibition is "Harvest Home," painted in 1908 in watercolor.

Other artists in the collection include David Howell Rosenbaum (1908-82) from Brigham City and his painting, "January Snows" painted in 1936 in oil on board.

Several pieces are by Lee Greene Richards. Best known for portraiture, Richards also painted still lifes, landscapes and murals.

Louise Richards Farnsworth also has landscape art in the exhibit.

The 22nd annual "Christmas Lamb Exhibition" is also on display, with 70 juried works of art submitted from children throughout Utah County ages 5-14.

The theme for the exhibit comes from the story "Christmas Lamb," which emphasizes how unselfish giving brings joy to the giver.

More than 200 people attended the awards ceremony for the show, where each artist received a certificate, $10, holiday treat and their own personal copy of the "Christmas Lamb" tale, which was read during the ceremony.

Additionally, the "Christmas Lamb" show complements the "Spiritual and Religious Art Exhibition," also in its 22nd year. Both are on display until Dec. 27. Sponsor is the David and Ingrid Nemelka family of Mapleton.

In Provo, the Covey Center for the Arts is running the "Visions of Light" show through Dec. 27, which includes about 30 stained-glass windows and an equal number of oil paintings. The stained glass is by David Gomm and his students, while the oils are by Utah artist Lynde Mott.

"The centerpiece is a Gothic angel in the attitude of prayer," Gomm said.

Gomm, his wife, Jeanne, and Mott all worked on it. The window is also featured on a Christmas card the Gomms sent out this year.

Jeanne Gomm designed it, Mott expanded on the design and then David Gomm perfected it with a computer program.

Some of Mott's paintings that have been featured on past Ensign magazine covers line the wall of the north exhibition room, while the stained-glass windows hang in the center. The Gomms' work is featured on the Web site, www.gommstudios.com.

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E-mail: rodger@desnews.com